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Is it Ireland? Is it the UK?

We’ll let you decide.

But there’s no doubt this city on the rise is going beyond its “football town” (ahem, soccer) reputation as a new travel hotspot.

Formerly holding a persona of being rough around the edges with high crime and political uproars, nowadays it’s become one of the UK’s coolest cities — and more travelers are taking notice, according to local sources.

You might need to whip out a map or ask ChatGPT for a geography lesson on this one — and maybe a history lesson too, if you really care to deep dive into this trendy city’s tumultuous timeline.

That said, not to tick off actual Ireland, but Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, home to incredibly dramatic coastlines often overlooked when taking a trip ‘across the pond’.

Whether you’re seeking new experiences a far cry from London, or simply want to see what the hype is all about, Belfast is perfectly suited as a destination unto itself while also doubling as a jump-off point to locally treasured coastal villages.

Tourists Kick Past The Football Reputation & Discover A City Reborn

Circling back to a tumultuous timeline, Belfast was not a place you’d want to be for a decades-long stretch from the 60s to 90s.

But today, it stands as a completely revamped city — one locals and those who’ve visited hold near and dear.

Rather than drab streets full of garbage and off-putting political graffiti, and even full-fledged riots at times, Belfast has found a sense of peace, quite literally, after the Good Friday Agreement was put in motion.

While some people still argue who it belongs to, from a traveler’s perspective, you should just know it feels brand new, unlike overly curated experiences in more popular locales.

There’s a tangible buzz and energy permeating through both modern skyline and storied marvels — a city that seamlessly blends its past and present.

Plus, despite being a little quirky (aren’t we all), there are some off-the-wall attractions you wouldn’t expect, like Titanic Belfast, a renowned museum that traces the ship’s story from a Belfast shipyard to its doomed voyage.

Overall, to borrow a local term, this city is leaving visitors “gobsmacked” with its unexpected delights no matter how it’s defined geographically.

Belfast Is More Affordable Than Dublin & London

Call it what you want, but Northern Ireland uses the British Pound, not Ireland’s Euros.

As such, you won’t want to pound your fist through a wall when the bill comes, as I do at London pubs.

Let’s take a gander at some typical costs across all 3 cities, shall we?

According to our own data from our Traveler Dashboard, Dublin averages:

• Hotel (per night): $200 – $350
• Dinner for Two: $80 – $130
• Beer: $7 – $10
• Coffee: $4 – $6:
• Taxi / Uber (10 min): $12 – $20

As for London, your wallet might shed a tear in your beer:

• Hotel (per night): $250 – $400
• Dinner for Two: $90 – $150
• Beer: $7 – $10
• Coffee: $4 – $6
• Taxi / Uber (10 min): $15 – $25

Whether you call it Irish or not, a visit to Belfast without indulging in trendy restaurants and classic pubs in the possibly sacrilegious neighborhood of the Cathedral District is, well, practically a sin.

According to Numbeo, here’s a rough guess at what you’ll spend in Belfast, plus a few others we scoped out ourselves:

• Dinner for Two: $81- $134
• Beer: $7 – $10
• Coffee: $4 – $7

Hotels are a lot cheaper too. For example, should you want to book a trip this spring, Hilton Belfast gives you great value ($118 per night) and a trusted name, earning the Travel Off Path stamp of approval.

Belfast does have Uber, too, where travelers on Reddit rave about fast pickup times. Keep in mind you can hop aboard a public bus or train for less than $4 for quick trips across the city, or slightly more to aforementioned coastal charmers like Londonderry, where the nearby 7-mile Benone Strand is a must-see.

How Safe Is Belfast Now?

It’s safe to say Belfast is safer than London.

We probably don’t need to rehash many unsightly headlines coming out of London, but Belfast isn’t as publicized globally.

According to Travel Safe Abroad, Belfast barely cracked the top 10 ‘most dangerous’ cities in the UK, following more notable Leeds in third place, London in fourth place, and Liverpool in fifth place.

Their December report states, “Belfast is home to over 640,000, with an overall crime rate 125% higher than Northern Ireland and 34% higher than England’s average.”, also noting that public transit tends to be safe during daytime, while tourists should be extra mindful on crowded streets for pickpockets.

For what it’s worth, if London is the UK’s fourth most dangerous destination, travelers are scoring London with a 79/100 on our real-time Travel Safety Index tool, marking reports of harassment, theft and scams.

That’s a solid score for a major city given the gargantuan population, on par with tourism powerhouses such as Paris and San Francisco.

Therefore, Belfast would likely rank higher given its complete glow-up and strengthened safety measures since its dark days of sectarian conflict.

In fact, last spring, it was reported Northern Ireland saw the second lowest crime level since the late 90s.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Senior Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 44 countries and written over 1500 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.